Noorwegen 2022
In April 2022, it was high time for another adventure. This time, the journey took us north to Norway. We crossed into Denmark by ferry, a catamaran, via Germany. From Kristiansand, our route through southern and central Norway began, with a variety of accommodations, often offering fantastic views. It was immediately striking to see the sheer volume of road construction in Norway, and the sheer number of tunnels in the fjord region. In a single day, we once drove over 90km of tunnels, about a third of the day's journey. But once you're out of the tunnels, you're immediately treated to fantastic views of fjords, mountains, ski slopes, waterfalls, and more.
One of the first parts of the trip was a hike to Preikestolen, a rocky outcrop overlooking a fjord with stunning views. However, getting there takes over two hours one way, with significant elevation gain over boulders, snow, and so on. Quite a challenge for office slickers like Henri and me. But despite that, we managed it all, and we were able to enjoy the views there and along the way—a small victory indeed.
Norway is, incidentally, an expensive country for dining out, grocery shopping, or gas. Prices can fluctuate considerably depending on supply and demand, so if you're not careful, you'll end up spending a lot. For example, over thirty euros for a hamburger menu with a few fries and soft drinks...
On the trip, we also visited places like Ålesund, Åndalsnes, Lillehammer, and Oslo. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful for most of the trip, and we were often able to unexpectedly enjoy our walks in our T-shirts and top up our tans.
In Lillehammer, we visited the Olympic ski jump and bobsled run, and I tried to light the flame. In Flåm, it was mostly fun people-watching on a tourist train. In Ålesund, we briefly checked out the animals in the marine aquarium. But above all, it was enjoying the stunning scenery of the fjords. The views varied quite a bit: sometimes expansive, sometimes steep, snowy, or sunny. Plenty to see. Definitely a country worth visiting!
